'Juliye'might be a thing of the past, but there's no stopping Julia Fox. And last night at New York Fashion Week, she added yet another entry to her CV. The show was LaQuan Smith - and instead of perching on the front row as she did at Schiaparelli - Fox dialled things up a notch.
As the first model appeared on the catwalk - iPhones trained on her black bodycon dress - it didn't take the crowd long to realise who she was: Julia Fox, the woman who had just confirmed her break-up in a statement. On Valentine's Day.
Not one to lick her wounds - Fox told The Cut: 'Why not see me for what I am which is a #1 hustler' - she instead made the ultimate post-relationship move. Her version of the famous 'revenge' dress- the lynchpin in the divorce wardrobe of Princess Diana - if you like. Smith's clothes, after all, come with serious sex appeal and were a natural fit for Fox, whose hair was styled into a gel-slicked bun and whose eyes were ringed with a similar felt tip flick that is fast becoming a signature.
It marks the beginning of a new chapter for Fox, who's had a helter-skelter two months by anyone's standards. 'I’m always in a time of transition,' she told The Cut. Whatever happens, expect to see more.
The Highlights From NYFW AW22:
Prabal Gurung
Prabal Gurung's show was a love letter to two places: where he's from (Nepal) and where he lives (New York). Writing in the show notes, the designer said: 'The beauty of my motherland is often glossed over, and with it, her women overlooked. So here, I seek to tell the visual tale of the radiant, celestial, and glorious women that define the nation.'
Prabal Gurung
Prabal Gurung
Collina Strada
Collina Strada's casting for its short film - The Collinas - was out-of-this-world. Its protagonist, the one and only Tommy Dorfman, led a line-up that included Aaron Philip, Katerina Tannenbaum (Carrie's new neighbour in AJLT) and Rowan Blanchard, all of whom were wearing the brand's cartoonishly fun clothing.
Collina Strada
Collina Strada
Collina Strada
3.1 Phillip Lim
Phillip Lim knows exactly what women (or, at least, this woman) wants to wear come autumn, namely glitter platforms, sequinned tank tops and easy-breezy boilersuits.
3.1 Phillip Lim
3.1 Phillip Lim
Michael Kors
'For this show, I wanted to bring the excitement and energy of a night on the town to life - because I think right now, no matter where you are, we're all craving that.' We're inclined to agree with Michael Kors, who presented as polished a collection as ever at Terminal 5, the city's iconic music venue, to a front row that included Blake Lively, Brooke Shields and Eric Adams, New York City Mayor. 'Michael Kors is the epitome of made in New York,' he said.
Michael Kors
Michael Kors
Peter Do
Fashion editors are obsessed with his 'Dumpling', a curvaceous shoulder bag that can hold the kitchen sink. Now Peter Do is coming for your workwear wardrobe. For AW22, he delivered the kind of soft-power separates (with interesting layering and lapels) that would certainly create a water-cooler moment in the office.
Peter Do
Peter Do
Jonathan Simkhai
It's hard to stage a 'first' at fashion week, but not impossible. Just ask Jonathan Simkhai, who, thanks to a partnership with Blueberry Entertainment, became the first designer to ever show in the metaverse. Yes, really. Simkhai's designs were transformed into digital wearables which Everyrealm, a metaverse real estate investor who coordinated the production, will host a NFT (non-fungible token) sale of today. Mind blown.
LaQuan Smith
LaQuan Smith just won first prize for fashion week's biggest 'moment' when Julia Fox, one half of former couple Juliye, opened his show in a body-sculpting black dress. Smith's clothes come with serious sex appeal and were a natural fit for Fox, whose hair was styled into a gel-slicked bun and whose eyes were ringed with a similar felt tip flick that is fast becoming a signature.
LaQuan Smith
LaQuan Smith
Tory Burch
Illuminated by a sign that read, 'New Yorker ❤ufe0f Tory Burch', Tory Burch's AW22 collection was another love letter to the women of the New York. American sportswear - its ease and effortlessness - took centre stage; zippered neon tops were worn with knife-pleat slacks, while turtleneck dresses almost looked like cycling jerseys with daubs of blue, brown and purple.
Tory Burch
Tory Burch
Coach
Coach AW22 was a continuation of last season's story, with 'huggable' shearling coats worn over grungy knee-length skirts and the kind of knitted minis that recalled this season's wardrobe in Euphoria. According to the brand's Instagram, these are clothes made with this generation's cool girls in mind. 'Wear this #CoachFall22 look to sneak out your bedroom window. (Your secret's safe with us.) #NYFW #CoachNY,' the brand posted.
Coach
Coach
Carolina Herrera
Carolina Herrera does romance like no other designer. Well, the brand did show on Valentine's Day, after all, with a slew of pink and red frocks that would make the most elaborate date night outfits.
Caroline Herrera
Carolina Herrera
Sergio Hudson
He's dressed the likes of Michelle Obama, Megan Rapinoe, Adut Akech and Rachel Brosnahan (who sat front row in peacock blue suiting). And for AW22, Sergio Hudson gave the people more of what they wanted: punchy colours and power silhouettes. He also briefed his models to, whisper it, have fun on the catwalk - and they delivered, smiling for the cameras (smiling!) and sashaying with one hand planted on each hip.
Sergio Hudson
Sergio Hudson
Khaite
Khaite's Catherine Holstein is the master of the cult buy - but her most famous is still that cashmere bra on Katie Holmes. For AW22, she gave it a twist, sending out a sequinned version - worn with an unbutton shirt and ruched silk mini - that definitely set pulses racing. Do you dare?
Khaite
Khaite
Ulla Johnson
Ulla Johnson gave her bohemian following plenty to bookmark for autumn, but it was the patchworked and crocheted co-ord (worn over a graphic turtleneck) that really got our attention.
Ulla Johnson
Ulla Johnson
Brandon Maxwell
Known for his extravagant looks on Lady Gaga - remember the year when she gradually derobed on the red carpet at the Met Gala? - Brandon Maxwell explored his more serious side on Saturday, with clever combinations for busy women who still want to deliver some brilliance. The corset-style top + straight-leg jeans was genius; ditto the black crew-neck knit with the ball gown skirt.
Brandon Maxwell
Brandon Maxwell
Christian Siriano
Christian Siriano is famous for having one of the best model line-ups in New York - and he didn't disappoint for AW22. Karen Elson, Coco Rocha, and Candice Huffine wore, what looked like, increasingly elaborate inky blue latex. Natalie Chan, meanwhile, was wrapped in sumptuous midnight black velvet. 'Adore you! Thank you for making me feel like a queen. ud83eudd8bud83dudc99ud83eudd8b,' posted Elson.
Christian Siriano
Christian Siriano
Jason Wu
Pretty was meted out with practical at Jason Wu, where gowns were given pockets and skirts came quilted. With the weather infamously changeable - 9°C one minute and -9°C the next - we bet one or two fashion editors would like to wear the latter straight off the catwalk in New York.
Jason Wu
Jason Wu
Proenza Schouler
Proenza Schouler delivered what felt like the ultimate wardrobe for a certain type of woman (into dresses but not girly dresses; into tailoring but interesting tailoring). This wrap skirt over a trench coat over a pair of trousers felt particularly fresh.
Proenza Schouler
Proenza Schouler
Tanya Taylor
With her digital presentation, Tanya Taylor seemed to be encouraging her customer to do something they might not have done for a long time: have fun. From the feathers to the ruffles to the minis, it felt like wearable optimism.